Okalihera
Emergency transport social business in rural Mozambique
A Oka-Taxi driver in Chiure district, Mozambique
©Sonil Joanguete
Context
There is hardly any motorised transport for medical emergencies in northern Mozambique. This can become a deadly risk for mother and child if there are pregnancy complications. Together with a local cooperative, SolidarMed is testing a new ambulance model.
> 489 maternal deaths/100’000 life births is the lack of transportation options to health facilities in the last mile (Mozambique)
The Project
The social enterprise ‘Okalihera’ rents out TukTuks (Oka-Taxis) to selected entrepreneur/-taxi drivers from communities and guarantees the maintenance of the vehicles. These entrepreneurs run their own taxi business to make a living and pay for the rent of the TukTuk. By renting the TukTuk from Okalihera, the driver commits to drive all pregnancy related maternal emergencies from his/her community to the next health facility – immediately and for free. Each driver is accountable to his/her own community. The LogBooks from each Tuk-Tuk inform about their daily activities.
Key Accomplishments
2019
Impact: More than 100 women transported in 2019
Swiss Solidarity Innovation Grant
Sashidhar Jonnalagedda
Project Manager